Updates on safety works and access around 62–70 Victoria Street, Paignton
We are continuing to respond to serious structural issues affected the privately owned building at 62-70 Victoria Street, Paignton.
Public safety is our priority. We have used our emergency powers to remove dangerous parts of the privately owned building at 62–70 Victoria Street and to keep people safe.
Victoria Street remains closed to vehicles. Engineers advise that the road must stay closed while the building remains unstable. Pedestrian access to businesses and key locations is being maintained.
The building is privately owned. We are not taking ownership of the property; we are acting only to address the immediate safety risks.
We will keep the community updated. This webpage, our social media channels and the residents’ newsletter will provide the latest information as the situation develops.
On Sunday 24 May, concerns were raised about the condition of the building at 62-70 Victoria Street. Our engineering and building control teams attended immediately and identified a significant risk to public safety.
To protect the public, we used our emergency powers to close part of Victoria Street and begin the controlled removal of the most dangerous sections of the building.
The building remains privately owned. Our intervention does not mean we have taken ownership of the property.
The building has been deteriorating for some time. In late 2025, the owners’ engineer reported serious structural concerns and advised that urgent action was required. Scaffolding was installed at that time to protect pedestrians.
However, recent close‑up inspections by our engineers showed further deterioration. They also confirmed that the lightweight scaffolding installed by the owners is no longer sufficient to protect the public.
Because of the risk of collapse, we have had to step in to remove the most unstable parts of the structure.
Our engineers have confirmed that no one can safely enter the building, either from above or below, due to its unpredictable and unstable condition.
Victoria Street remains closed to all vehicles on the advice of our engineers.
We currently expect the closure to remain in place for at least six more weeks. We understand the disruption this causes, particularly for bus users and motorists, and we are working with partners to explore whether buses could safely return to the street. We will update this page as soon as we know more.
Pedestrian access to local businesses, the train station, bus station and library is being maintained.
All businesses in the area remain open.
There is safe pedestrian access to the train station, bus station, local businesses and the library.
We have:
We know the situation is difficult for businesses. However, we are not legally responsible for compensating businesses for loss of trade caused by emergency safety measures or risks arising from a privately owned building.
Businesses seeking financial redress may wish to:
We will continue to promote the message that the town centre is open.
We know the building contains asbestos. We do not yet have the most recent asbestos report, so we cannot confirm whether asbestos is limited to certain areas or affects the whole building.
Any asbestos removal must be carried out by a licensed contractor, and the law requires a 14‑day notification period before work can begin.
The Airshow went ahead as planned. We worked hard to maintain safe pedestrian access and to reopen roads earlier than advertised wherever it was safe to do so.
Due to the safety zone required in front of the building, the Paignton Railway Station taxi rank has had to be closed. Alternative taxi provision is available on Torbay Road. Signage directing passengers to the ranks is in place.
Bus services are unfortunately affected by the emergency closure of Victoria Street.
Stagecoach services
If you are travelling from the Torquay direction and your destination is Paignton town centre, you may be better getting off before Cecil Road/Victoria Park as the services 12 and 22 will divert via Colley End Road, Kings Ash Road, and Totnes Road. This is also the same diversion for the Service 24 from Foxhole
Torbay Buses and Country Bus
Other services are continuing to use Hyde Road, and diverting via Torbay Road, Sands Road, Whitstone Road and Dartmouth Road before returning to Paignton bus station.
Bus users are advised to check with individual operators before travelling for the latest service times and route information.
We are assessing with our external partners, whether there are alternative safe and sustainable routes for buses. We will provide more information as soon as possible.
Hyde Road car park remains open as normal.
Vehicles can continue to travel along Hyde Road, through Station Square and down Torbay Road. However, vehicles cannot exit Torbay Road or Station Square onto Hyde Road / Victoria Street. All motorists must follow the road‑closure signs in place.
We are currently not able to maintain a cycle route through the area because of the size of the safety compound required in front of the building. We kindly ask cyclists to dismount when passing through the limited pedestrian areas or use an alternative route.
We take immediate action to address dangerous building on Victoria Street, Paignton